Corhampton Kennels
June Onda – Corhampton Kennels
John and June Onda July 2013.
When I was asked to write a tribute to June, I thought how does one write about a rich well lived life in a few short paragraphs. I wanted new breeders who never knew June or her beloved dogs to read this and realize what a wonderful breeder and person she really was. I also wanted older breeders who knew June and had her dogs in their pedigrees to think yes that was just how June was. I also wanted to add photos so everyone could see just how beautiful her dogs where. But most of all I wanted this to be my memories of a special person who came into my life.
Over 16 years ago I was looking for a chocolate male. I contacted 3 breeders from their ads in the CKC Dogs Annual. June responded and I was on a waiting list for 2 years. I would call June every couple of months but she never had a show quality male for me. Then the day came when she called me. A friend had a male the pet people had backed out of and June thought he was very nice and I could buy him as he came from her lines. The breeder never gave any sort of guarantee with the puppy but June thought that was ok. Well it ended up not being ok. The puppy ended up tearing both cruciate ligaments and with 2 surgeries he never moved correctly and I couldn’t show him. I guess June felt bad recommending this breeder and said she had a 14 month old yellow female she would sell me. The rest as they say was history.
Ch Corhampton’s Winsome Willow ‘Willow” 1999
Corhampton’s Winsome Willow arrived at the airport with an attitude. She flew through the show ring and won her championship easily. This bitch is behind all my yellows today. June was happy for me and enjoyed hearing all about how well Willow did in the ring.
Back then a bitch was shipped to the male to be bred. So off Willow went back to June to be bred. June also told me just pay the stud fee when the puppies were sold that was how generous she was. A puppy was kept and that was the true start of Wildbrook Kennels.
I decided I should go and meet June and see her kennel and dogs. So I flew to Toronto on my own and June’s husband was going to pick me up. Over 3 hours later I was starting to think I wasn’t going to be picked up. I tried calling but no one answered. Then in walked this man with a jacket that said Corhampton Kennels on the back and I realized it must be John. He was picking up 2 bitches that were shipped in to be bred and cargo couldn’t find one so that was why he was late.
Back then a bitch was shipped to the male to be bred. So off Willow went back to June to be bred. June also told me just pay the stud fee when the puppies were sold that was how generous she was. A puppy was kept and that was the true start of Wildbrook Kennels.
I decided I should go and meet June and see her kennel and dogs. So I flew to Toronto on my own and June’s husband was going to pick me up. Over 3 hours later I was starting to think I wasn’t going to be picked up. I tried calling but no one answered. Then in walked this man with a jacket that said Corhampton Kennels on the back and I realized it must be John. He was picking up 2 bitches that were shipped in to be bred and cargo couldn’t find one so that was why he was late.
We did arrive at their home and June greeted me warmly and thought she must have been in the kennel and didn’t hear the phone. It was really exciting to see all the dogs in person. I got to meet Willow’s parents and see the puppies June was keeping and the new litters she had.
Guests were put upstairs where June had a spare whelping room and kept all her book collection. I copied many titles down and spent years buying the books. June did tell me that she never had time to read them all but would when she retired. We had a great visit that was just one of many we would have over the years.
Guests were put upstairs where June had a spare whelping room and kept all her book collection. I copied many titles down and spent years buying the books. June did tell me that she never had time to read them all but would when she retired. We had a great visit that was just one of many we would have over the years.
We kept in contact by phone over the years always chatting about the dogs and what was happening in our lives.
I remember June telling me how she named her kennel. She got her daughter to write down names of towns in England and the one she liked the best was Corhampton so that was the one she used, She also mentioned to me that she made John drive up to the Bush and showed him the property where her kennel was and then she told him they were retiring and breeding Labrador Retrievers. I asked her what John had said if he was happy about her decision and in only June fashion she said he came with didn’t he.
I remember June telling me how she named her kennel. She got her daughter to write down names of towns in England and the one she liked the best was Corhampton so that was the one she used, She also mentioned to me that she made John drive up to the Bush and showed him the property where her kennel was and then she told him they were retiring and breeding Labrador Retrievers. I asked her what John had said if he was happy about her decision and in only June fashion she said he came with didn’t he.
I can remember on another visit that June had 3 older puppies that hadn’t sold over the winter still at the kennel. June lived in a really small township quite far up north and when winter came puppy buyers didn’t want to drive that far for a puppy. She let these 4 month old puppies out for a run and they ran around June, grabbed a tissue from her pocket and started to chase each other. June sat in a chair and laughed and laughed at these puppies.
Ch Corhampton’s Wildbrook Fog Magic ‘Asha” a typical Corhampton puppy
During another visit June had 2 litters of puppies. One Mom had a C-section and was still at the vet so one bitch was feeding the 2 litters. Now June wasn’t a real affectionate type of person but I found her sitting on the side of the whelping box touching the head of a week old puppy. There were older puppies out in the puppy kennel and June went out to feed them and noticed that one was throwing up and didn’t look well. She called the vet and off we went with the puppy. There was a short cut road called the bunny trail that linked June’s place to the nearest town. As she was hurrying to the vet we only slowed down to avoid a bear in the road and I opened the car door to let the puppy throw up. The vet put the puppy on an IV and John went to pick her up the next day.
June once told me that a dog of hers named Percy was used by the Seeing Eye Dogs of Canada and that they had called her and that the whole litter had passed to be used in their program. June said to the lady that wasn’t that nice. The lady told her she didn’t understand that it never happens that a whole litter passes. The Seeing Eye Dogs used Percy several more times.
Ch Corhampton’s Barley O’Brady CD WC JH “Barley”
Ch Corhampton’s Barley O’Brady CD WC JH was one of June most successful show dogs. A friend had taken Barley’s litter to her house to sell for June as it was late in the year and the weather would soon be too bad for puppy buyers to drive. The breeder sold all the puppies but one and that was Barley. June was very excited as Barley was her favourite. Barley was used by many breeders in Canada as well as the US. When Barley got old June had a chiropractor come to the house for him. I remember the day I was talking to June and she told me that John was taking Barley to the vet as he wasn’t doing well and she didn’t think he would be coming back. She knew she was only thinking of herself and how much she would miss him and not of Barley and that it was time to let him go.
June had a chocolate stud dog she had bought and had been used by many breeders. The dog became ill and the vet couldn’t find out what was wrong with him. June retired him from public stud and kept him. Well about 4 years later June found out he had Lupus. She called every breeder who had used him and told them. June told me that they could do what they wanted with the knowledge but at least she did the right thing.
I was planning a trip up to see June and pick up a puppy and June said I should come for a dog show. Another breeder and her friend were going to stop at June’s and we would follow them. We all stayed in the same hotel room. It was the LOC Specialty. Now at that time I had never been to a Specialty that had more than 50 dogs at the show. There were more labs at this show than I had ever seen in my life. June got her catalogue and sat at ringside and watched the dogs. That was what June did at shows she came to see the dogs. Well lunch time came and June said we should get a hamburger that the hotel had made She found a table with two empty spaces. She started talking to the people at the table and I realized we were sitting with Joyce Love (Rickway), Tom and Gail Shearer (Bonaventure) and Pat and Mike Lanctot (Ebonylane) some of the top breeders at that time in Canada and the US. June just chatted to them about the show, the weather etc as though they were all old friends. On the way home we got lost and stopped at a gas station. June saw a truck driver and thought he was cute and might know what highway we needed to take. I said June!!! And she said she was married not dead and off she went. We did make it back that night. If you were June’s friend she really cared about you and what was going on in your life.
June had sold some dogs to Argentina to a breeder there. They had become friends and talked off and on by phone. One day the breeder called to tell her that her 15 year old daughter was in an accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. June told me that they both ended up crying on the phone.
Another time there were heavy rains where I lived. June called to make sure that I was ok as she had seen on TV a weatherman standing up to his waist in water. I told her I was fine and that I lived on a hill and if we were flooded the whole town would be gone.
June sold dogs to many breeders, used her males on many females and helped to start many kennels. But June didn’t sell dogs to everyone. I remember a guy in my area having a male that was #1 in Canada. I told June wasn’t that exciting coming from a small province to achieve that. She then told me that he had called her several times for a puppy and she wouldn’t sell him one. I asked her why and in June’s style I was told he wouldn’t last in dogs. June was right he was in and out in less than 5 years.
June sold dogs to many breeders, used her males on many females and helped to start many kennels. But June didn’t sell dogs to everyone. I remember a guy in my area having a male that was #1 in Canada. I told June wasn’t that exciting coming from a small province to achieve that. She then told me that he had called her several times for a puppy and she wouldn’t sell him one. I asked her why and in June’s style I was told he wouldn’t last in dogs. June was right he was in and out in less than 5 years.
June taught and showed me many things over the years. Her motto was Temperament Is Our Trademark and this was so true with her dogs. She taught me about movement, top lines, heads etc. We had the same idea of that perfect dog in our head. I kept a notebook that in it I had listed some of the things June had told me over the years. Like if you bred to this dog he would improve heads or if you bred to this one be careful he produced missing teeth and so on. June taught me to keep a book on Judges and write down where they judged who they put up, how well I did as she said that way I would know if I should show to them or not. One year June would breed out and the next year she would buy a new dog to add to her breeding program.
June used a handler to show her dogs. She started out showing them herself but after a broken ankle and finger thanks to the dogs she had to give that up. She usually had a special and a male and female out being shown. She always got excited when the handler called about the dogs wins. June did like her dogs to win.
Ch Wildbrook Carry On Corhampton “Carry” her BPIS win
When Willow had her last litter I called June and told her I was sending her a puppy. Ch Wildbrook’s Carry On Corhampton went to her first show at just 6 months old. She won BPIS and June called to tell me how well Carry had done. She also sent me a win photo. June went on to buy 2 more dogs from me. I am sure we would have continued doing this if June hadn’t suffered a stroke. She was in the hospital for months and John was unable to handle all the dogs on his own. Many of the dogs were taken by other breeders or sold. This was the beginning of the end of Corhampton Kennels. June was never again well enough to carry on with her kennel. June sent Carry back to me and I bought Crofter from her.
Ch Corhampton Anna Canmark JH “Anna” another one of June’s dogs
As the years past and the Corhampton dogs were retired and replaced with other dogs by the breeders that started with June it became a joke between June and I that when I had a litter I would call her and say that this litter was 50% Corhampton and that this litter was 25% and June would laugh.
Ch Autumnspirit’s Crofter “Crofter”
Last year I had planned to spend some days with June and John, now in her late 80’s I knew June wouldn’t be around for ever. I had blocked off 5 days this July just to go and see her. Always before our visits where on my way to a dog show or on the way home from dog shows and I wanted just to spend time with her. I didn’t tell her that I was coming and I think I surprised them when we showed up at her door. We would spend several hours each day with her. We talked about older breeders, what breeders that we both knew were doing that I has seen on facebook, the new dogs being shown, all the lab breeders that were now becoming judges and the price of beach front homes in her town. I also told her that with having Crofter’s semen frozen that there would also be some Corhampton dogs with me. I told June that I had bred to an American dog. June was excited for me and hoped I would have some champions from this litter. I told her I would send her some pictures of the puppies but I didn’t get a chance to. As we were leaving for home on the last day of our trip I asked John and June to stand side by side so I could take a picture. June told me to come back for a visit next year. I knew it was the last time I would see her but I wasn’t expecting her to die just 2 short months later.
June and I had a friendship that lasted over 16 years. I really don’t remember June ever annoying me or a harsh word being spoken between us. I hope it was the same for her. I never signed a contract with June when I bought a dog or when I bred one with her. June did what she said she was going to and so did I. It worked for us.
John and June had mentioned how much they missed living in the bush with their beloved Labradors. They told me that if they could they would go back tomorrow. So my friend I hope you are back in the bush with Barley, Sally, Spencer and the many other dogs that left before you did. Until we meet again…
I wanted to do something to honour my friend so Gerald and I will be donating the BOB trophy at the 2014 Canadian Nationals in memory of June and the Labradors of Corhampton Kennels.
Nancy Dagley
Wildbrook Kennels
Wildbrook Kennels
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